Cardiff's city centre is compact and walkable, arranged around Cardiff Castle and the covered Victorian arcades that link the main shopping streets. St Mary Street is the main pedestrian axis; the Castle Quarter and the Hayes branch off it toward the civic buildings and the covered market. The whole thing can be crossed on foot in under 20 minutes.
What makes the centre distinctive is the arcades — more Victorian covered shopping streets per square kilometre than anywhere in Britain, housing a mix of independent shops, cafes and record stores. On match days the pubs along St Mary Street and in the surrounding lanes become one continuous, good-natured party. The centre is also very close to the station, which makes arriving and orientating easy.